Four Olympic medallists lead Great Britain diving squad for World Championships

07 June 2017 / 11:37

Four Olympic medallists will return to the boards as the first World Championships of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic cycle takes place in Budapest next month, with Great Britain taking a 12-strong squad to Hungary.

Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallists Jack Laugher and Chris Mears headline the team, looking to replicate the 3m synchro form that has already seen then win three World Series medals in 2017.

Laugher will also compete in the 3m and 1m springboard disciplines, while Olympic bronze medallists Tom Daley and Dan Goodfellow will once again unite in the 10m synchro.

Daley, who was on the podium at both London 2012 and Rio 2016, will also take to the platform for his individual event.

But that’s not the end of a busy schedule for the 23-year-old, starting his fourth Olympic cycle, diving in the mixed 3m synchro with Grace Reid as the pair look to build on a promising start to the year.

Reid, one of six World Championship debutants heading to Budapest, teams up with Katherine Torrance for the 3m synchro while also competing in the 3m springboard.

There are also places for Tonia Couch and Lois Toulson in the 10m synchro, just a few months after competing together at Rio 2016 with Ross Haslam, Robyn Birch, Matty Lee and James Heatly making up the team.

And for Laugher, the feeling of last summer’s success in Rio is still a driving force in his progression, determined that his drive for success does not come to an end quite yet.

“I am doing the 1m springboard this year which I haven’t done for a few years but I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he told British Swmming.

“I’m excited to get back to action at the World Championships. What happened last year at the Olympics was a dream come true and I want to be able to show that I can continue to develop in my diving.

“I’ve had a good World Series competition in the 3m springboard and 3m synchro which gives me confidence going into the World Championships too.”

British Diving national performance director Alexei Evangulov added: “I believe we have selected the strongest team we have for the World Championships.

“The first World Championships of a new quadrennial is always an interesting challenge which often sees new athletes competing so it will be good for us to see who our international rivals bring out to compete.

“On the back of the success in Rio we know that we need to keep building and moving forwards which is why I know our team will continue to work hard to be in the best shape they can be for Budapest.”